HAGIWARA PROJECTS is pleased to present Ryota Nojima’s solo exhibition, “Sheltie,” starting Saturday, January 11. Nojima captures everyday occurrences and sensory experiences in his daily drawings. Fragments of memories and sensations born from this process take shape and find expression in his paintings.
In his creative process, Nojima avoids setting clear goals, instead embracing a flexible and intuitive approach akin to drawing. By engaging with his own memories and emotions and interacting with the canvas, he carefully selects lines, colors, and shapes. Even the traces of erasure contribute to the unique depth and richness of his works. Imagining this process adds another layer of enjoyment to experiencing Nojima’s paintings.
Rather than being bound by the question of “what is depicted,” Nojima’s works evoke a sense of liberation, unconfined by specific themes or messages. These paintings, which leave ample room for diverse interpretations, convey a sense of openness that brings viewers a refreshing impression and a sense of expansive possibilities.

Ryota Nojima: Born in Tokyo in 1987, Ryota Nojima graduated in 2012 with a degree in oil painting from the Department of Painting at Musashino Art University. His major exhibitions include: Knuckleball, Gallery Chosun (2023, Seoul), JUNE ART FAIR (2023, Switzerland) (solo), Culture Day, Pending Paintings, HAGIWARA PROJECTS (2022, Tokyo) (solo), Paris Internationale (2022, Paris), Hyo, OGUMAG＋ (2022, Tokyo), Shared Kitchen, Fujimidai Tunnel (2021, Tokyo) (solo), ○○ life, SET Project Space Lewisham (2021, London), Invisible Strings in Spring, Devening Projects (2018, Chicago), TWS-emerging – E-kun and E-san Make Art, But It’s Not Art, TWS Shibuya (2015, Tokyo) (solo).